In a combined room, the sofa and the dining table compete for the same floor. Plan both at once, then choose pieces that share a material or tone. Browse sofas and the dining collection.
Clearances
Leave at least 90 cm for walkways, and about 105 cm around a dining table when the chairs are occupied. Allow 60 cm of table edge per person. A sofa that floats away from the wall also marks the boundary between the two zones, so its back should be finished as well as its front.
The sofa
Seat depth sets how the sofa is used. Around 55 cm suits upright conversation. 65 cm or more suits reclining. The Bowie Straight Sofa is low and deep on a recessed plinth base, with inner-coil seat cushions over a no-sag spring foundation. It favours lounging. The Linear range sits higher and more upright on tall matte black metal legs.
The table
Solid timber ages better than a thin veneer in a family room. The Ethica Table is 2.4 metres of smoked ash, and it gains marks that the finish carries well. The Armano is a 1.2 metre round in hand-applied microskin, which is waterproof and seats four.
Clearances at a glance
| Space | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Walkway | 90 cm |
| Around a dining table with occupied chairs | About 105 cm |
| Table edge per person | 60 cm |
| Sofa seat depth for upright conversation | About 55 cm |
| Sofa seat depth for reclining | 65 cm or more |
Balance the room
Pair a large sofa with a substantial table rather than light chairs on a thin frame. Repeat one tone across both zones without matching it exactly: smoked ash against a warm grey fabric, for example. The Miso and Alba chairs suit these tables. Our guides to pairing a table and chairs and three seater sofas go deeper on each zone.
Questions
How do I separate the two zones?
Float the sofa away from the wall so its back marks the boundary, and finish the back as well as the front.
Round or rectangular table?
A round table such as the Armano is easier to walk around in a shared room.
Do the sofa and table need to match?
No. Repeat one tone across both zones.
See it together
Visit the Parnell or Grey Lynn showroom and we can help you lay out your own room.
